Thursday, September 24, 2009

Bamper's Waffles

Weekend breakfasts are big around our house. During the week we eat quick healthy breakfasts but on the weekend we enjoy spending time together in the kitchen creating. This Sunday we made waffles.

We use the Betty Crocker cookbook and it is the same recipe my dad has always made. My parents go by Bamper and Bammer for now, so we'll call these Bamper's waffles. Chad was in charge of the bacon and the photos, while Addy and I made the waffles, cut the berries and whipped the cream. Addy stayed with us in the kitchen throughout the whole process.

As she has begun to notice writing in books I have begun to keep the recipes within her reach and ask her to read me the next step. Obviously she isn't reading yet but knowing the significance of print is a big pre-literacy skill.

We started with the mixing. She is really getting the hang of careful stirring, especially if I talk her through it. Telling her how to hold her hands and how quickly/slowly to go. When the bowl isn't very full I can let her stir on her own and but as we get towards the end of the recipe I like to keep a hand on the bowl.

We replace up to a cup of all purpose flour with whole wheat flour. It adds health benefits as well as a nice nutty flavor that we like. You can mix these with a hand mixer but since Addy was helping we just did it all with a whisk.

Bamper's Waffles

2 large eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 TBLS brown sugar

4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Beat the eggs until fluffy. Add remaining ingredients and beat until smooth.

Heat waffle iron while you are whipping cream and cutting strawberries. Our waffle iron takes 2/3 of cup of batter at a time but this may vary depending on the model that you use. You can use the batter later on in the week but I like to make all the waffles and then freeze the extras. They heat up well in the toaster oven. The kids devoured the extras for lunch yesterday with plain yoghurt, honey and berries on them.

This time Addy wanted to help cut the berries. I removed the tops and then she helped chop them using one of her knives. I think she ate as many as went into the bowl.

Our breakfast was delicious and gave us plenty of energy for the rest of the morning. Here is Addy playing "secret garden" in our back yard.